The Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop has announced a change in leadership with the resignation of the Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw as co-chair and the election of the Rt. Rev. Edward J. Konieczny to that post.

“It is with sadness that I read an email from Tom Shaw on Wednesday resigning as Co-Chair of the Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop as a result of his need to focus on his continued treatment,” co-chair Sally Johnson of the Diocese of Minnesota wrote recently to the 29 members of the committee.

Shaw, Bishop of Massachusetts, was diagnosed with a brain tumor last spring and has been receiving treatment following surgery in May. He will remain on the committee.

The Rev. Canon Michael Barlowe, executive officer of the General Convention, contacted committee members with the invitation to submit nominations for a new co-chair.

On September 17 the committee elected Konieczny, Bishop of Oklahoma, as co-chair. He joins Johnson and committee secretary, the Rev. Ruth Lawson Kirk of the Diocese of Virginia, on the committee’s executive leadership team.

Bishop Konieczny thanked committee members for their support, adding that he would continue to seek Bishop Shaw’s counsel.

“We have a strong committee, doing great work, and this change in leadership should not be disruptive,” Bishop Konieczny wrote to committee members. “I look forward to working with all of you and completing our task in providing the church with the best possible nominees as our next Presiding Bishop.”

Related: On August 22 Bishop Shaw sent an update to the clergy of his diocese.